Erich Leie
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Erich Leie | |
|---|---|
 Leie (right) with Helmut Wick (center) on 22 October 1940 | |
| Born | 10 September 1916 |
| Died | 7 March 1945 (aged 28) near Drogomyśl[1] |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ | Luftwaffe |
| Rank | Major |
| Commands held | JG 77 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Erich Leie (10 September 1916 – 7 March 1945 †) was a German pilot during World War II. He was a recipient the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Leie was officially credited with 118 victories from over 500 combat missions. He claimed 76 victories over the Eastern Front and 42 claims recorded over the Western Front.
Awards
- German Cross in Gold on 20 October 1942 as Oberleutnant in the I./JG 2[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 August 1941 as Oberleutnant and pilot in the Stab/Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen".[3]
References
- ^ Place of death
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 274.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 500.
- MacLean, French L (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports: For the Knight's Cross Winners. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-2657-8.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
